CNX To Expand Innovative Natural Gas Development in Penn Township and Across Westmoreland County
September 2, 2025
By Positive Energy Hub staff
Following a favorable ruling by the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board (EHB) regarding previously issued permits for a site in Penn Township, Westmoreland County, CNX is moving forward with plans for enhanced natural gas development in the area following its recent acquisition of APEX Energy’s local assets. New resource development in Penn Township will showcase CNX’s signature approach to transparent, sustainable operations and community engagement.
Overcoming Environmental NGO Delay Tactics
Development at the Drakulic site has faced unnecessary hurdles, with its drilling permits caught in a prolonged appeal process driven by an activist group that seeks an outright ban on all development. In a significant blow to the activists, the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board recently upheld the Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) permit issuance, dismissing the attacks on the propriety of PADEP’s permit review and approvals as well as the proposed operations.
This latest episode underscores what has become an all-too-familiar playbook employed by environmental NGOs where valid permits issued by PADEP are challenged on dubious grounds, squandering taxpayer dollars and obstructing development and progress in local communities while forcing industry repeatedly to expend significant resources to defend such claims.
Alan Shepard, CNX’s President and Chief Financial Officer, noting the Company’s intention to align the Penn Township site with CNX’s broader operational standards, expressed enthusiasm about the area’s potential. “We’re committed to working with the Penn Township community to tailor our operations to their needs,” Shepard said. He also emphasized that while opponents are likely to file new appeals, such challenges often lack any legal or factual grounding. Mr. Shepard continued, “The system designed to protect the public and ensure safe and compliant development is being manipulated by activist groups intent on the sole and improper purpose of delaying and impeding progress. It is long past time to put a stop to this process.”
A Model for Sustainable Development and Community-Centered Operations
CNX is committed to building state-of-the-art well pads across Westmoreland County that meet and exceed Pennsylvania’s environmental regulations, local ordinances, and federal standards. The company’s operations stand out for their focus on innovation, sustainability, and transparency. CNX tailors its operations specifically to local characteristics, reducing freshwater use, reusing produced water where feasible, and upgrading infrastructure to decrease truck traffic. The company also customizes solutions around issues such as light and noise to ensure responsiveness to each locality where it operates.
Radical Transparency in Action
Through its Radical Transparency program, launched in collaboration with Governor Josh Shapiro and PADEP, CNX provides real-time environmental data from its active well pads and compressor stations. Monitoring air and water quality, along with detailed chemical disclosures, the initiative has shared over 700,000 data points since its start, accessible here. The program currently covers 18 sites, with plans to expand the effort across all future operations.
Groundbreaking Intensive Pad Study
As part of the efforts between the Shapiro Administration and CNX, PADEP has begun conducting the most intensive independent study of unconventional gas wells in the nation. CNX is providing state regulators with continuous access to one of its well pad sites in Washington County, PA allowing for in-depth independent monitoring of the air emissions before, during, and after development of the new wells.
Looking Ahead
As CNX expands its footprint across Westmoreland County, it remains dedicated to responsible energy development with its unique brand of environmental stewardship and community collaboration. For more details on CNX’s operations, sustainability efforts, and community engagement, visit www.CNX.com.
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